Pious pretext, prurient interests? Selling lingerie in Saudi Arabia

Pious: adj. marked by or showing reverence for deity and devotion to divine worship; marked by conspicuous religiosity

Pretext: n. an appearance assumed in order to cloak the real intention or state of affairs

Prurient: adj. marked by or arousing an immoderate or unwholesome interest or desire

In Saudi Arabia women the religious police, formally known as the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice make sure that women are covered from head to toe in robes and veils, sit in a separate room from the men at the mosque, and otherwise keep themselves away from men’s prying eyes.

OK. I keep my lip zipped on what I think about this situation. But here’s the absurd thing: most retail stores in Saudi Arabia are staffed solely by men. Including women’s lingerie stores.

Imagine being one of these super-cloistered cloistered woman, having a strange man measuring your bust, discussing uplift or separation or your cleavage. Helping you choose lacy bikini panties. (Saudi women wear them too…).

And putting myself in the salesman’s shoes – it would be torment – like touching the devil. Tzzzt!!

One brave woman is fighting against this, setting up a Facebook page to rally others, suggesting that women boycott these stores till things change. You go girl!